Workplace definition of sex/gender - advice?

[whoknowswhyanyonedoesanything]

Hi all. I'm looking for a bit of advice.

At my organisation, information about a recent innovation/scheme described as for women/females and intended to be of specific benefit to them (think of issues that impact on women in the workplace in an institutionalised sexism way) finished by also stating it was 'inclusive' in its definition of women to include trans women and non-binary.

I think they have their definitions wrong. I think it defeats the purpose of the original intention of the scheme. I feel uncomfortable about it and want to say something. But is this a 'putting my head above the parapet' situation? I feel a bit sick at the prospect of speaking up tbh. Should I? And how should I - what should I say? Or am I on the wrong track?

Sorry don't want to go into too much detail and have name changed (actually registered again because forgot password, such a long time lurker) for this.

Many thanks for any advice if you can with this limited info!

Workplace sets up support group for employees with disabilities to discuss issues of common concern. Chris from Accounts identifies as having a disability, on the grounds of having occasional stomach problems that Chris thinks might be mild IBS or some sort of food intolerance or allergy that has so far not been identified in spite of extensive testing, so goes along. (Everybody else in the office knows that Chris gets occasional indigestion and heartburn because of eating a crap diet.) Even if Chris sits in the corner saying nothing, the mere presence of somebody who has no genuine lived experience of disability inhibits discussion.

I see OP's case as a golden opportunity for 'Chris' types.

Transwomen are discriminated against and harassed because of their trans status

And I would also say that they're mostly harassed & discriminated against by men, who see them as "failed" men. Rarely as women ... Transwomen are mostly harassed & assaulted because they contravene masculinity, not because of their perceived "femininity".

Very different issues to those women face.

And it would be "kind" to point this out & suggest a separate support group for transwomen.

@Viletta

What about intersex? Have you met a non binary bearded man who wants to join a female group to chat about menstruation? I think it's all blown out of proportion. The company is trying to follow modern inclusive policies that haven't yet hurt anybody.

We had a menopause workshop on menopause in the workplace at work just before lockdown. Mostly women of a certain age as expected and then 4 men who sat there, one did start mansplaining about menopause but was given short shrift. Very weird and odd.

I think there are different needs of meetings - one for those who have, are or will experience pregnancy or periods or menopause, to discuss how to manage symptoms etc. One which includes managers, to discuss how to manage staff who may experience symptoms - which ideally would include guidance from HR (but HR, may just be all confused when you ask if there's a menopause policy...)

There would be a different dynamic to those meetings, but also, on a practical level, given most meetings last an hour, it also means there's time for more in-depth discussion rather than skating over the surface of either and no one getting quite what they want from the discussion.

Thank you everyone and I'm taking the comments on board. I have my own position which aligns with most here, and am mainly concerned about how it would be received/how to approach this tactfully (selfish I know but it is extremely easy to get tarred with the brush of being an argumentative woman!)

Just to say to one PP - women's-focused groups are not just to talk about menstruation and pregnancy - this is a work focused group! Those important issues are dealt with quite competently by and in consultation with our HR department.